Drinking fountain attachment

ABSTRACT

A drinking fountain attachment is disclosed having clamp bracket means dimensioned to clampingly fit over the horizontal portion of a water discharge pipe at a location upstream from a downward facing discharge opening in the pipe; support rod means is pivotally connected to the clamp bracket means with an upwardly flaring conical flow directing cup supported on one end of the support beneath the discharge opening so that water enters the directing cup to flow out through the outflow opening in its lowermost portion into conduit means formed of plastic with an embedded wire having one end connected to said outflow opening and an opposite end spaced transversely from said flow directing cup facing upwardly so that water flow directed by said flow directing cup into the end of said conduit is projected upwardly out of said other end in a fountain-like manner.

United States Patent 1 Clark Dec. 24, 1974 I 1 1 DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT [76] Inventor: Charles F. Clark, PO. Box 86,

Roanoke, Va. 24002 221 Filed: Oct.3l, 1973 211 App1.No.:411,203

1,133,105 3/1915 Corthausl... 1,788,449 1/1931 Catlin 3,101,174 8/1963 Loveland 239/27 Primary ExaminerM Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerJohn .1. Love Attorney, Agent, or FirmMason, Fenwick & Lawrence [57] ABSTRACT A drinking fountain attachment is disclosed having clamp bracket means dimensioned to clampingly fit over the horizontal portion of a water discharge pipe at a location upstream from a downward facing discharge opening in the pipe; support rod means is pivotally connected to the clamp bracket means with an upwardly flaring conical flow directing cup supported on one end of the support beneath the discharge opening so that water enters the directing cup to flow out through the outflow opening in its lowermost portion into conduit means formed of plastic with an embedded wire having one end connected to said outflow opening and an opposite end spaced transversely from said flow directing cup facing upwardly so that water flow directed by said flow directing cup into the end of said conduit is projected upwardly out of said other end in a fountain-like manner.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures DRINKING FOUNTAIN ATTACHMENT This invention is in the field of drinking fountain apparatus and is specifically directed to the field of drinking fountain attachments connectable to the conventional faucet or the like. Even more specifically, the subject invention is directed to a new and unique drinking faucet connectable to a water discharge pipe of the type frequently found in association with kitchen sinks and the like.

Numerous devices have evolved over the years for the purpose of providing a drinking fountain in conjunction with conventional faucets and/or water supply pipes. Unfortunately, the prior known devices have suffered from a number of disadvantages which have limited their acceptability. For example, many of the prior known devices have been constructed so that they are usable only with a particular type of faucet or pipe and have been incapable of being mounted on other faucets of different design.

Other known drinking fountain attachments have rendered the faucet to which they are attached incapable of normal faucet operation so that the installation of drinking fountain attachments of this type results in the loss of the function of the faucet to a large extent.

Other prior faucet attached drinking fountain devices have required the employment of skilled labor such as a plumber for connection of the attachment to the faucet with the consequent labor costs involved in the installation greatly lessening the desirability of the fountain-attachment. Still other prior known drinking fountain faucet attachments have been overly complicated and expensive and have, therefore, found little acceptance.

Another disadvantage of some prior drinking fountain attachments is that they usually are of rigid construction and cannot easily be adjusted to position the water discharge area at different heights or locations for different users of such devices.

Another problem frequently found with the prior known drinking fountain attachments is that the attachments work adequately for a given water pressure, but are incapable of providing satisfactory operation when there are substantial fluctuations in the water pressure.

Therefore, it is the primary object of this invention to provide a new and improved drinking fountain attachment for connection to conventional faucets or the like.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of new and improved drinking fountain faucet attachment means that is economical and easy to install requiring no expensive labor. j

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved drinking fountain attachment for connection to a horizontal water discharge pipe of the type frequently found on kitchen sinks.

Yet another object of this invention is the provision of a new and improved drinking fountain that is easily positioned in an inoperative position in which it does not interfere with the normal operation of the faucet to which it is connected.

Obtainment of the foregoing objects is achieved by the subject invention through the provision of a drinking fountain attachment connectable to a horizontal water pipe of the type having a downward facing discharge opening at its outer end by means of a split clamp bracket capable of attachment to pipes of various sizes and shapes. A vertical pivot pin extends downwardly from the clamp bracket and is mounted for rotation on its upper end in the clamp bracket. The lower end of the pivot pin includes a rectangular housing portion. having a rectangular opening in which a support rod is axially positionable. The support rod can be maintained at any desired axial position of adjustment in the housing by means of a set screw.

The outer end of the support rod is provided with a vertical aperture through which a plastic tube extends and is frictionally retained. The plastic tube includes an embedded wire member so that the tube can be manually positioned as desired and will remain in an adjusted position unless and until it is subsequently readjusted. The upper end of the plastic tube extends into an opening in a conical flow directing cup for receiving water from the flow directing cup. The flow directing cup is of conical sidewall shape including excess pressure and excess water discharge openings with the flow directing cup being positioned a discrete distance immediately below and in line with the water discharge opening of the pipe with which the apparatus is associated. The other end of the plastic tube is provided with a protector cup for preventing contact of the end of the tube with a users lips.

During operation, the flow directing cup is positioned beneath the discharge opening of the pipe to receive water which is directed into the plastic tube and cascaded upwardly and outwardly through the protector cup. During periods of non-use, the support rod and pivot pin can be rotated to reposition the cup from beneath the discharge opening of the pipe so that the flow directing cup does not interfere with the normal discharge of water from the pipe.

The flow directing cup is normally positioned a discrete distance beneath the discharge opening so that there is an air space between the cup and the opening. However, the distance between the water discharge opening and the cup can be adjusted by sliding movement of the plastic tube upwardly in the aperture in the end of the support rod in which the tube is positioned. Such movement is necessary in order to accommodate installations in which there are varying water pressure conditions.

A better understanding of the manner in which the subject invention achieves the objects of the invention will be enabled when the following written description is considered in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the invention installed on a horizontal water discharge pipe;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation partially in section of the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the preferred embodiment illustrating the preferred embodiment in solid lines in its operative position and in an inoperative position in dotted lines.

Turning first to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment, generally designated 10, is illustrated in conjunction with a horizontal water pipe 12 of the type frequently found mounted on kitchen sinks or similar environments. Pipe 12 includes a downwardly facing discharge opening from which water flow 14 can be provided if desired through the operation of conventional valving means (not shown).

The drinking fountain attachment means includes a clamp bracket means comprising upper and lower bracket plate halves 16 and 18 clamped on pipe 12 by means of conventional nut and bolt assemblies 20.

An apperture is provided in the lower bracket plate half 18 through which the upper end 22 of a pivot pin.

24 extends and is held in position by a head flange 26 in a manner that will be obvious from inspection of FIG. 2. The lower end of pivot pin 24 includes a support rod support housing 28 having a rectangular opening in which a support rod-30 is slidably positionable in a desired axial position. Support rod 30 can be held in any desired axial position of adjustment by means of a set screw 32 (FIG. 2).

The outer end of support rod 30 is provided with a circular aperture 34 through which aflexible plastic tube or conduit 36 extends. Tube 36 is snugly received in opening 34 and is held in position by frictional contact with the surface of the opening so that tube 36 can be adjusted within the opening upwardly or downwardly as desired.

The upper end 38 of tube 36 is received in an outflow opening 40 formed in the bottom wall 42 of a flow directing cup having a conical sidewall 44. Excess water and pressure dissipating openings 46 are provided in the conical sidewall 44 and the upper edge 48 of the wall 44 is normally positioned below the discharge opening 50 of the pipe 12 as shown in FIG. 2 in order that excess water flow can escape from the cup in an obvious manner. However, should there be a decrease in water pressure, for example, the upper end of plastic tube 36 can be moved upwardly to move the conical cup closer to the discharge opening in a manner that will be apparent from inspection of FIG. 2.

Plastic tube 36 includes a metal wire 52 which enables the tube to be bent to a desired position in which it will remain until subsequently moved to a new position. The end 56 of tube 36 opposite the inflow end 38 constitutes a discharge end from which water 60 is pro jected upwardly as shown in FIG. 1. A protector cup 62 is mounted on the upper end 56 of tube 36 to prevent lip contact with the discharge opening of the upper end 56 of tube 36.

' It will be appreciated that the preferred embodiment is capable of substantial adjustability for various installations and it should be noted that the support rod 30 can be pivoted about the axis of pivot pin 24 to the dotted line position illustrated in FIG. 3 in which the normal water discharge operation of the pipe 12 is not interfered with in any manner.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it should be understood that numerous modifications will occur to those of skill in the art. For example, while the cup and the support rod and pivot pin components are shown in the form of metal components,.these components could easily be fabricated of moulded plastic or other comparable material. Therefore, it should be understood that the spirit and scope of the subject invention is to be limited solely in light of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A drinking fountain attachment connectable to a conventional water discharge pipe of the type extending horizontally and having a downward facing water discharge opening, said attachment comprising clamp bracket means dimensioned to clampingly fit over the horizontal portion of a water discharge pipe at a location upstream from said downward facing discharge opening, support rod means extending from said clamp bracket means, an upwardly flaring conical flow directing cup supported on one end of said support rod means, said flow directing cup being open on its upper end and including a conical side wall including a plurality of openings for permitting the egress of excess water and pressure in said cup and an outflow opening in its lowermost portion, conduit means comprising a plastic tube member having an embedded wire enabling an easy manipulation of said conduit to a desired position in which the conduit will remain until subsequently repositioned and having one end connected to said outflow opening and an opposite end spaced transversely from said flow directing cup facing upwardly so that water flow directed by said flow directing cup into the end of said conduit is projected upwardly out of said other end in a fountain-like manner and pivotal connector means including a pivot pin supported for rotation about its axis in an opening in said bracket means pivotally connecting said support rod means to said bracket means for swinging movement of said support rod means in a horizontal plane so that said support rod can be positioned in a first position in which said flow directing cup is spaced beneath said discharge opening of said pipe in alignment with said discharge opening to receive water from said discharge opening and an inoperative position transverselyspaced away from beneath said discharge opening so as not to interfere with normal operation of said water discharge pipe wherein said support rod means is connected to said pivot pin by means of a rod clamp housing portionon the lower end of said pivot pin defining an aperture in which said sup port rod is slidably positionable and holding means engageable with said support rod for maintaining said support rod in an adjusted position.

2. The invention of claim 1 additionally including a flared protective shield cup connected to the outer end of said conduit for preventing lip contact with the end of said conduit from which water is discharged, and wherein said flow directing cup is spaced a distance below said downward discharge opening so that air space is provided between the upper end of said flow directing cup and said downward facing discharge opening to permit excess water to egress outwardly above the top of said flow directing cup.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the outer end of said support rod means includes an aperture in which said plastic tube member is slidably positionable in frictional contact with said aperture, said flow directing cup including a floor portion in which said outflow opening is provided with one end of said plastic tube being fixed in said outflow opening so that adjustment of said tube in said support opening in the end 'of said support rod serves to adjust the vertical height of said flow directing cup.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises a plastic tube member having an embedded wire enabling an easy manipulation of said conduit to a desired position in which the conduit will remain until subsequently repositioned.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said flow directing cup includes a plurality of openings in said conical wall for permitting the egress of excess water and pressure in said cup.

space is provided between the upper end of said flow directing cup and said downward facing discharge opening to pennit excess water to egress outwardly above the top of said flow directing cup. 

1. A drinking fountain attachment connectable to a conventional water discharge pipe of the type extending horizontally and having a downward facing water discharge opening, said attachment comprising clamp bracket means dimensioned to clampingly fit over the horizontal portion of a water discharge pipe at a location upstream from said downward facing discharge opening, support rod means extending from said clamp bracket means, an upwardly flaring conical flow directing cup supported on one end of said support rod means, said flow directing cup being open on its upper end and including a conical side wall including a plurality of openings for permitting the egress of excess water and pressure in said cup and an outflow opening in its lowermost portion, conduit means comprising a plastic tube member having an embedded wire enabling an easy manipulation of said conduit to a desired position in which the conduit will remain until suBsequently repositioned and having one end connected to said outflow opening and an opposite end spaced transversely from said flow directing cup facing upwardly so that water flow directed by said flow directing cup into the end of said conduit is projected upwardly out of said other end in a fountain-like manner and pivotal connector means including a pivot pin supported for rotation about its axis in an opening in said bracket means pivotally connecting said support rod means to said bracket means for swinging movement of said support rod means in a horizontal plane so that said support rod can be positioned in a first position in which said flow directing cup is spaced beneath said discharge opening of said pipe in alignment with said discharge opening to receive water from said discharge opening and an inoperative position transversely spaced away from beneath said discharge opening so as not to interfere with normal operation of said water discharge pipe wherein said support rod means is connected to said pivot pin by means of a rod clamp housing portion on the lower end of said pivot pin defining an aperture in which said support rod is slidably positionable and holding means engageable with said support rod for maintaining said support rod in an adjusted position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 additionally including a flared protective shield cup connected to the outer end of said conduit for preventing lip contact with the end of said conduit from which water is discharged, and wherein said flow directing cup is spaced a distance below said downward discharge opening so that air space is provided between the upper end of said flow directing cup and said downward facing discharge opening to permit excess water to egress outwardly above the top of said flow directing cup.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein the outer end of said support rod means includes an aperture in which said plastic tube member is slidably positionable in frictional contact with said aperture, said flow directing cup including a floor portion in which said outflow opening is provided with one end of said plastic tube being fixed in said outflow opening so that adjustment of said tube in said support opening in the end of said support rod serves to adjust the vertical height of said flow directing cup.
 4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said conduit comprises a plastic tube member having an embedded wire enabling an easy manipulation of said conduit to a desired position in which the conduit will remain until subsequently repositioned.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said flow directing cup includes a plurality of openings in said conical wall for permitting the egress of excess water and pressure in said cup.
 6. The invention of claim 5 additionally including a flared protective shield cup connected to the outer end of said conduit for preventing lip contact with the end of said conduit from which water is discharged, and wherein said flow directing cup is spaced a distance below said downward discharge opening so that air space is provided between the upper end of said flow directing cup and said downward facing discharge opening to permit excess water to egress outwardly above the top of said flow directing cup. 